East Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association

02/27/2026

Right here in our East Central area!!

There’s something powerful about farmers around a table.

At our annual meeting, we reflected on two years of growth as the Summer Kitchen Cooperative — growth that’s often invisible but deeply felt. Every conversation, every shared skill, every collective decision has brought us closer to creating a stronger, more resilient future for farmers and eaters.

We’re energized for the year ahead and can’t wait to share the abundance coming from this community of dedicated growers.

If you want to be part of it, subscriptions to our farm shares are open now. Join us in supporting local farmers and bringing this season’s harvest to your table.

02/18/2026

Who will be there from our EC Chapter?!?

We're looking forward to having Jared Luhman join us again at the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit!

Jared farms in Goodhue, Minn. He and his family raise a herd of 230 registered Red Angus and 50 black angus cattle that are bred to thrive in their environment without the use of expensive inputs.

Jared is also the host of the Ranching Returns Podcast, where has had the opportunity to sit down with more than 250 successful ranchers, farmers, and graziers from across the US and internationally. In his breakout session at the Summit, he’ll highlight what successful operators tend to do differently—and what they avoid.

Learn more about our Summit sessions and save your seat on our website! One-day and student registration rates are now available.

02/03/2026

Dinner & Featured Speaker on Native Grazing and East Central SFA annual meeting

Join the East Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association for an evening of great food and a featured speaker, followed by our annual meeting.

Please register by February 9, 2026, so we can provide a final meal count. (if you have trouble registering, email [email protected] for assistance)

Featured Speaker
We are excited to welcome Stephen Thomforde, presenting on
Native Grazing and Agroecology Informed by Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Stephen will share how Indigenous land-management practices—such as fire, native plants, and grazing animals—can create productive, resilient landscapes that improve soil and water health, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and support strong local communities.

Friday, February 20, 2026
📍 Northern Lights Ballroom & Banquet Center, Milaca, MN
🕔 5:00–9:00 PM

Evening Schedule

5:00–5:45 PM – Registration & Social (cash bar open)
5:45–6:30 PM – Buffet Dinner & Desserts
6:30–8:00 PM – Speaker Presentation
8:00–9:00 PM – SFA Annual Business Meeting (optional)
Registration REGISTER HERE

👉 Registration is required — please register by February 9, 2025

East Central Chapter members: Attend free with active membership
Non-members: $54.95
(Become an East Central Chapter member and attend for free)
Questions or help registering: [email protected]

We hope you’ll join us for this engaging presentation and shared meal.

01/16/2026

East Central SFA Chapter Meeting – Initiative Discussion

You are invited to join the East Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association for an upcoming meeting/discussion on Sunday, January 25, 2026, from 1:00–3:00 PM.

Location and Time:
Coborn’s Community Room, 209 6th Ave NE, Isanti, MN
Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 1–3 PM

At the December 13th meeting in Mora, participants began an initial conversation about how potential grant funding could be used to increase engagement and better support farmers and homesteaders in our region. A number of ideas were shared, and those initial concepts are now captured in a shared document.

Whether you are a current SFA member or simply interested in sustainable farming, local food systems, or community-based agriculture, or support local sustainable farmers, we invite you to review the ideas in advance and add your comments or new ideas. Review and comment in the link provided.

The January meeting will continue the discussion, gather broader input, and explore ways to strengthen support for farmers and homesteaders across East Central Minnesota. Non-members are warmly welcome and encouraged to attend. Attending a chapter meeting is also a great way to learn more about the Sustainable Farming Association and consider whether membership is a good fit for you.

We look forward to your participation and to building a strong, connected regional community.

Also, looking ahead:
📅 East Central Chapter Annual Meeting - Look for registration on website or email

Friday, February 20, 2026
📍 Northern Lights Banquet Center — 10376 112th Ave, Milaca, MN 56353

01/05/2026

SFA and Minnesota Dairy Initiative are hosting a free lunch and farmer-led presentations focused on profitability and grazing!
Mark your calendars for January 29 from 11 AM to 2 PM in Alexandria to gather with fellow dairy farmers and learn about dairy heifer grazing and mutli-cropping strategies.
Learn more and register on our website's event calendar.

SFA and Minnesota Dairy Initiative are hosting a free lunch and farmer-led presentations focused on profitability and grazing!

Mark your calendars for January 29 from 11 AM to 2 PM in Alexandria to gather with fellow dairy farmers and learn about dairy heifer grazing and mutli-cropping strategies.

Learn more and register on our website's event calendar.

01/05/2026

Ranching for Profit is a national leader in helping ranchers understand the economics of grazing management and how to increase profit per acre. Learn more and register at https://sfa-mn.org/forage-council/

The Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council is hosting a daylong workshop with Dallas Mount of Ranching For Profit on February 11!

Ranching for Profit is a national leader in helping ranchers understand the economics of grazing management and how to increase profit per acre. Learn more and register at https://sfa-mn.org/forage-council/

12/27/2025

EC Chapter member Ryan Nelson will be one of the many speakers at our annual SFA conference in February.

We are just six weeks out from our biggest farmer-led gathering of the year!

Members and nonmembers alike are invited to our 2026 Annual Conference on Saturday, February 7 at the College of Saint Benedict.

Learn more and register on our website.

12/01/2025

East Central Chapter SFA Winter Gathering & Taco Bar Potluck (includes a discussion on how East Central can use grant support to support our farmers)

Saturday, December 13, 2025 • 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Mora Public Library — 200 W Maple Ave, Mora, MN 55051

As the harvest season wraps up and we prepare for winter’s slower rhythm, the East Central Chapter SFA invites you to come together for connection, conversation, and good food. Whether you’re a long-time SFA member or simply curious about what we do, you are warmly welcome to join us!

We’ll share stories from the 2025 season—its victories, challenges, and lessons learned—and open the floor for ideas on how our chapter can best support farmers/members in 2026. East Central has an opportunity for a grant to use to support our farmers. Your experiences, insights and ideas are vital as we shape the year ahead.

🌮 Taco Bar Potluck:
We will have a pot luck during this meeting Bring a favorite taco ingredient to share! The potluck will begin at 11:00 AM.
To help us keep the potluck balanced and avoid having too much of one item and not enough of another, please use the following Google document to indicate what you plan to bring after you register for the gathering.

📅 Save the Date: Annual Chapter Meeting
Friday, February 20, 2026
📍 Northern Lights Banquet Center — 10376 112th Ave, Milaca, MN 56353
Please mark your calendars for our East Central Chapter Annual Meeting. Details on our featured speaker and dinner menu will be announced soon, but for now—be sure to save the date!

09/25/2025

East Central Chapter Social/Networking at Isanti Spirits, Isanti, MN

Join us at Isanti Spirits for a distillery tour, and social time and tasting in their taproom. Rick Schneider, owner of Isanti Spirits, primarily sources grains grown and barrels coopered in Minnesota.

If you would like a tour of the distillery, join us at 3:00pm. The tour lasts about an hour and is $10.00 per person. We will go to the tap room after the tour for socializing/networking. Tastings are available for purchase for those who are interested. Rick crafts high quality Isanti Rye Whiskey, Sunken Bobber Bourbon, and Tilted Cedars Gin. Other liquors are available in the cozy taproom as well as craft sodas and snack plates.

Date: Sunday October 5, 2025
Times: 3:00pm of you are joining the tour ($10.00 per person)
4:00pm for the social/networking hour
Location:
Isanti Spirits
4242 285TH Ave. NW
Isanti, MN 55040

Please register so we can plan accordingly. Hope to see you there!

09/18/2025

East Central Chapter SFA Networking at Lift Bridge Brewing - Stillwater

Where: Lift Bridge Brewing Co.,
(1900 Tower Dr. W. Stillwater, MN 55082)
When: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

The East Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association invites you to gather for networking, good food, and great beer at Lift Bridge Brewing during their Farm Day Growers and Makers Market! At the same time, SFA will have a table in the market area. Stop by to say hello and get connected to the network.

This networking time is a chance to connect with fellow farmers, food producers, and friends while celebrating Farm Day Golden Ale, a Lift Bridge beer released earlier this year to honor local growers and makers.

Featured Beer: Farm Day Golden Ale •
• $1 from every Pint
• $0.50 from every Can
• $2 from every Crowler

…sold during the event will be donated to support SFA!
Food Available for purchase: Jr. Food Craft food cart will be serving delicious eats throughout the day. To help us know how many are joining us, please complete the free registration:

Register Here: https://secure.sfa-mn.org/np/clients/sfamn/eventRegistration.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&event=8572

Come enjoy the market, raise a glass of Farm Day Golden Ale, and gather in the tap room to connect with your sustainable farming community and stop by the SFA table to say hello. We hope to see you there.

08/27/2025

Join the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) for its first-ever regional event in the MN/WI area, hosted by Ryan and Desiree Nelson of Nelson Grass Farm. The Nelsons, members of SFA’s East Central Chapter, have been raising broilers, layers, turkeys, and pigs for over twelve years while developing innovative regional distribution models to better serve customers.

This regional APPPA event will feature pasture walks, on-farm demonstrations, and sessions on sales, marketing, and new regional distribution approaches. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to network and collaborate with farmers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. More information regarding this event can be found here More Info

Registration through APPPA:
• APPPA Members: $50 per person
• Non-Members: $75 per person
(Lunch is included in the ticket price.)

Register at www.APPPA.org

Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow farmers, learn practical tools for success, and be part of a growing regional network of pastured poultry producers!

02/26/2025

We're having our 2nd Annual Regenerative Agriculture Meeting

at Freddie's in Mora on March 27th.

9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Includes lunch. Speakers include Ben Ice, Zach Gunnink, and Craig Trytten, plus Q and A!

Cost: $25 per person
Mail payment to Craig Trytten (5052 440th St., Harris, MN 55032) or UPDATED email: [email protected]

Thanks much!
Craig and Vicki Trytten